Letters From Jesus-Doug Crum

Sunday's sermon presented by Doug Crum 04/05/26


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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Amen. You may be seated. It is finally here. I hope I'm not the first person to say this, but I would just as gladly be the second or the third or the fourth. Happy Easter. I mean, this is a really big day. Lance always says that that uh in church, Easter is like the Super Bowl. Now, honestly, I don't really agree with him a hundred percent. Uh, mainly because uh my team hasn't been to the Super Bowl in over 30 years. And if you're with me, if you like the the blue and silver, you know exactly what I'm talking about. There is uh some issues. I know what we really need to do is talk to Jerry Jones about this. He happens to be sitting right there. Jerry, you wanna yeah, he's been a coach in football for a long time. Um, maybe he can straighten this out and get us back to the Super Bowl. But I do agree that Easter is like the Super Bowl because it is such a huge, momentous day. It's a day when we all come together, but we're not here to spectate about someplace where there's a game that's being played where we might win. We are participating in a celebration because the game has already been won. Praise God. We are not spectators, we are participants. Now, I know what you're thinking, you know, we should celebrate the resurrection of Jesus every Sunday. I scratch that. We should celebrate the resurrection of Jesus every day. But still, today is a really big day because for nearly two thousand years, millions of followers over the centuries have worshiped Jesus, his resurrection. They've done it in different languages, in diverse places, in a variety of ways, but they're wanting to celebrate Jesus Christ. Before Jesus came, people prophesied. They anticipated, they imagined, and they hoped for the day when the king would rise to power. The resurrection of Jesus fulfilled the prophets, what the prophets suffered for, what they spoke about, and what they dreamed of. This is the most pivotal moment in all of history. It's the dividing line between the group of people that anxiously awaited the king and those who will forever celebrate him. That is what today is all about. But there was a time. There was a time in history for just several hours where the world was caught in between. Jesus had been crucified. His body was taken down from the cross, and it was placed in a tomb, and the stone was rolled into place. And Sunday had not yet come. The tomb was still full. The disciples were hiding, and no one had yet cried out, He has risen. And so I often wonder. I wonder what life must have been like on that day for his family members and his friends and his followers. What was life like on that Saturday? I wonder if they were sick with sorrow and grief over his death, or they were giddy with anticipation over his rising. Even more intriguing, I wonder what Jesus would have said to them while they were living out the longest Saturday ever. So I did a little research. I made a few phone calls, I pulled some strings, and I ended up ended up getting in touch with a Dr. Henry Jones. I'm guessing by his nickname that he might be from the Midwest. I'm not really sure. Anyway, he's an archaeologist who goes around uh and he's looks for different ancient artifacts and lost treasures. He's actually released a few documentaries. Uh, one of them is about the lost ark, and the other is about a famous temple of doom. I asked if he had any information, and he said that he would look into it. And so after searching through multiple caves and different synagogues and even in a few graveyards, he found something that he said I would find intriguing. Apparently, in the corner of a basement, hidden underneath two millennials of papyrus and religious relics and a couple of heavy stone tablets, he found some materials. He actually just dropped them off this bag this morning. Um, and he said he wanted to stay around, but something about some Germans looking after him, and so he couldn't hang out here. He appears to be on the run. So, according to Indiana, that's what all his friends call him, uh he hypothesizes that these letters were actually written to some followers and friends of this Jesus of Nazareth from Jesus and dispersed all throughout Judea on the Saturday before the big day. I have not had an opportunity to look at these, but hopefully, if you don't mind, we can read some of these letters. Apparently, they were written from Jesus to some of his followers the Saturday before he was risen. He just left this bag. He said I would find some, okay. There's a shroud of some kind that's kind of oily. Okay, I don't know what that is. We'll forget that. Um, well, there's a cup. Who would drink out of that thing? Never mind, that's not important. Why would an archaeologist carry a whip? Okay. All right. Here we go. Here we go. Okay, this must be it. Okay. Okay. So let me see. If you don't mind, I'm just gonna sit down. Woo! Man, that's some tiny riding. I'm gonna have to get this out. Okay, here we go. Um, okay, agapitone mu petros, ego, genosko, hoesketon. Oh, I'm sorry. I apologize. I just realized that you probably don't know Koine Greek. Um, I tell you what, here's what I'm gonna do. I will try my best to translate this for you and and just bear with me. Maybe, okay, let me start again. Okay, um, my beloved Peter. Okay. Uh I know that the last few hours have been especially difficult for you. And I know that you are filled with regrets and grief and shame. Please remember that my denials did not send you to the cross. My love for you did. I know you thought that denying me would save your life, but the truth is me denying myself is what saved you. I want you to know that I forgive you. I want you to know that I love you. I want you to know that I haven't given up on you. I am going to use you in a really big way. You are broken, but this is what needed to happen. I have much to say to you, and soon enough you will see me again. This time, instead of running away, you will run to me. We will embrace, you will weep, and you will celebrate with joy. We might even eat some fish together. Just know that your life will not be defined by what you did to me. It will be defined by what I did for you. I can't wait to see you in a few days. P. S. You may not be the fastest runner, but I trust that you will be the first one to go into that tomb. See you soon, Jesus. It's pretty interesting. Let's look at another one. Okay, uh, Thomas, you didn't see this coming now, did you? I know that what I said was really hard to believe. One day we're feeding the multitudes and raising the dead, and the next I'm prophesying that everyone will desert me and I will die as a criminal. But I want you to know I'm not a criminal. Our plan hasn't failed. Your life is not over. Do you want to know a little secret? I'm not dead. I know that that's hard to believe, especially for you. I know you must have your doubts, and I don't blame you. In a few days you're going to hear rumors, but you will refuse to believe them. You won't believe them because believing that I am alive means that everything will change. Can I let you in on a little secret? Everything will change. You think seeing a few scars and touching a few wounds changes everything? I have so much more in store for you. Don't lose heart. Don't lose faith. See you soon, Jesus. Matthew, my dear friend, you have been through so much. You gave up family and friends and respect to become a tax collector. In return, you got wealth and power and fine living. And then I walked by your booth and you gave all of that up to follow me. That's when the fun really began. We fed multitudes, we traveled across the country, we made some friends, and we made even more enemies. We healed the sick, the paralyzed, the lepers, and the blind. We raised people from the dead, we preached to the masses and attended enough parties and weddings to last a lifetime. I think it's safe to say that none of this would have happened if you didn't quit your day job. I hope you know that leaving the tax booth was the best thing that you ever did. However, you might be wondering if you gave up everything for nothing. I'm gone, and you're left confused and broken and lost. Matthew, I need you to know it ain't over. I died, but my father is going to raise me back to life. It's going to be the greatest story ever told. And with a little help from you, it's going to be the greatest story ever written. I have some details that I want to share with you, but I'll fill you in with those later. In the meantime, don't give up. See you soon, Jesus. Oh, this is addressed to several people. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. I love you all so much. You are family to me. We have laughed together, cried together, shared meals together, and lived life together. Lazarus, I even went to your funeral. Do you remember that one? You all never stopped following and listening, encouraging and supporting me. Even when you didn't understand, you always made room for faith. Lazarus, when you were lying dead in the tomb, both of your sisters were heartbroken at your passing. They both wanted you to live, and they both thought that I could have healed you. Martha, do you remember what you said to me when I showed up in town? Mary, what about you? Do you remember what you said to me? Both of you said the same thing. Jesus, if you had been here, he would not have died. Sometimes, sometimes you go through hard times even when you're close to the Messiah. When your faith is strong and I am near, sometimes we still face hardship and heartache and hurt. Lazarus died and we laid him in a tomb, and there he stayed for four days until I raised him back to life. Those were four awful days. But seeing him alive again changed everything. So I want you to know something. I'm going to do an encore. I'm going to be away for a few days, but I'm coming back. I will rise. I will see you face to face. I figure if I can raise old Lazarus from the dead, I might as well do the same for myself. I can't let you have all the bragging rights, Lazarus. So weep if you must, but keep looking at the tomb. It's about to be empty. I'll see you soon. Jesus. Simon, I want you to know that I chose you for a reason, for a purpose, for a goal. You might be thinking that your life is over and your plans have failed. Listen to me, they have not. Your zeal for your nation and for your people have been a big part of who you are. I do not want that fire to burn out. I have a plan for you, and soon your zeal will burn stronger than ever before. However, instead of fighting for a people that can't succeed, you will be fighting for a king who can't fail. What I did on the cross, what I did for you, what I did for your country and for the world and for all people of all times, that is what will drive you. You're a mighty warrior. And though your fight will not involve fists or swords or daggers, the fight will rage on. I expect you to be on the front lines. You will wage war against hate and injustice and oppression. And together we will win. We will storm the gates of Hades. And the victory is ours. Don't give up on the fight. Don't lose the faith. We will discuss all of this in greater detail when I visit you next week. Always faithful. Jesus. The soldier at the cross. You were so close. You were so close that you almost missed it. There you were at the foot of the cross. At the foot of my cross. I know you were just doing your job, passing the time, and hoping to get your hands on some nice threads. I get that. You could have kept your head down, your mind distracted, and your mouth silent. But you didn't. You looked up. You looked up and expecting to see just another criminal on the cross, instead, you saw a savior, you saw an innocent man, you saw me. And from the overflow of your heart, you spoke a proclamation that will echo on into eternity. Surely he was the Son of God, you will say. You are right. I am. I am the Son of God who came to save this world. You're going to have the rest of your life to follow orders, to kneel to emperors, and to seek power. Everyone is around you is going to tell you that joy is found in power, that happiness is found in wealth, and that purpose is found in exaltation. But you know better because you've seen better. Don't keep looking down. Look up and see that gold robes and food and pleasure won't make you happy, that your fulfillment is found in the Son of God. You won't save the world by carrying a sword. I already saved the world by carrying a cross. You Romans think that you invented the cross, but I want you to know that I chose that cross before Rome was founded. I didn't pick it out for you. I picked it out for me. And I didn't carry it for me. I carried it for you. And I'm about to do something that will blow your mind. You don't know what that means, but soon enough you will. Keep looking up. Jesus of Nazareth. Mother. Where do I start? I love you so much. I love you for raising me. For bandaging my knee when I scraped it and kissing my thumb when I smashed it. I love you for taking care of me and my brothers and my sisters. I love you for how you love Dad. I love you for never giving up on me, even when it didn't make sense. When my heavenly father chose you. You chose a hard road. Because I came into, because I came, our family would deal with disgrace. Because I came, you carried heavy burdens. Because I came, you watched your kids struggle to see my purpose. Because I came, you have experienced a grief greater than any other parent could imagine. Because I came, you followed me until your life was turned upside down. Because I came, you stood there and watched your son die a brutal, painful, humiliating death. And you felt that same life altering, soul piercing pain. And now I'm gone. And you feel so alone. And so broken. But, Mom, I'm coming back. And because I'm coming back, our family will be praised forever. Because I'm coming back, I will carry your heavy burdens. Because I'm coming back, you will see your kids have a greater purpose than ever before. Because I'm coming back, you will experience a joy greater than any parent could ever imagine. Because I'm coming back, you will follow me into a life of righteousness. Because I'm coming back, you will someday stand with the angels and sing with the choir. You will experience joy and grace and peace that you have never imagined. I can't wait to turn your grief into joy and your mourning into laughter. And it's only a few days away. I love you, Mom. Your baby boy. Nicodemus. I remember the first time that we met. You were inquisitive and skeptical and uh honestly a little paranoid, but much has changed since we met that night several years ago. No one could have imagined that I would be dead, and no one could have believed that you would be the one to carry my body to the tomb. Heaving my cold, lifeless, bloody body must have been difficult. Surely it was physically exhausting, but emotionally it had to be nearly overwhelming. But you did it. You did it out of love and out of respect and out of honor. Nicodemus, what I'm about to say may be more shocking to you than anybody else, because you were there in those last moments. You bore the weight of my body. You can testify that as you carried it down the hill, that it was lifeless. You wrapped my body in cloths. You placed me in the tomb. You rolled the stone in place. You walked away exhausted and heartbroken, dripping with sweat, covered in blood, weeping as you walked away, not daring to look back. Nick, you need to sit down for this. Because I'm about to rise up. Nicodemus, I'm alive. I'm alive and I'm coming back. And I'm coming back and I'm setting up my kingdom. And I'm setting up my kingdom, which will be filled with people who will be born again. Remember when we talked about that? It didn't make sense when I first told you, and it probably doesn't make sense now, but it will someday very soon. The one that carried you will one day, the one that you carried will someday carry you. Thank you for being faithful. I'll see you soon, Jesus. Pilate, you got yourself into quite a mess. I know that you're stuck trying to please your authorities and maintain order and not lose your own head in the process. You didn't want to kill me, and I know that. You know that. And my Father in heaven knows that. You tried to wash your hands of my blood so that you wouldn't bear the guilt of my execution. You were afraid of what my blood might do to you. But I want you to know that my blood as it covers people is not a curse, it's a blessing. I pray that you will come to know that you did not take my life, but that I gave it up. But, Pilate, you must stop riding the fence. You must stop trying to please everyone. You need to decide in your heart what is right and stand up for that. You need to know the truth. And you are right. I am a king. But I'm not just a king of the Jews, I'm a king of the Galileans, of the Samaritans, of the Egyptians, of the Ethiopians, the Phoenicians, and even the Romans. But don't get your turban tied up over that. I'm not here to overthrow people. Just unite them. I'm going to set up a kingdom that is not of this world, and I hope, I really hope you'll be a part of it. Oh, and one more thing. The next time your wife gives you advice, I suggest that you take it. I'll see you soon, Jesus. John, my best friend, the one whom I love and trust. I suspect that your hands are full right now. I knew that my mom was going to take my death really hard, but I knew that you would have the strength to comfort her in her grief. Thank you for being there for her and for me. You'll never know how much I love you. Through all our years together, you were there for me, and you could see the bigger picture better than anyone else. Well, except for that one time. You remember the time that you and James wanted to call down fire from heaven on an entire village just because I didn't well, just because they didn't welcome me. I wonder what you want to do to Jerusalem right about now. But don't start praying for fire to rain down. Just look for the sun to rise. I know that you keep going over the last week in your head over and over again, but this little nugget is going to blow your mind. Remember when I said that I was going to die? That was no accident and it wasn't a mistake. It was my plan from the beginning, not the beginning of my ministry or the beginning of my life, not the beginning of Israel from the very beginning. But the plan doesn't end there. Not only was I supposed to die, I'm going to rise again. Not like of the resurrection someday. I mean like on Sunday, this Sunday. I'm coming back. You can write this down, John. I'm the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live even though they die. John, I can't wait to see you and to hug your neck. Until then, take care of my mom. I'll see you soon, Jesus. This is unusual. To the Christians who are hearing this today, not unlike my people living thousands of years ago as the Son of Man came into this world, you have felt much like what they have. You wrestled with doubt like Thomas. You've been overthrown with grief like my mother. You have felt shame like Peter. Some of you have been caught in the middle like Pilate, amazed like the soldier, hopeful like Lazarus, and confused like Simon. Many of you have loved like John, shared my story like Matthew, and displayed your faith like Nicodemus. And like them, it is important for you to know a few things. So please listen closely. I love you with an everlasting love. A love that will never ever end. As you wrestle with the guilt of your past and the shame of your sins, please know that I came and lived and died. Through the blood, sweat, and tears I thought of you. I want you to know I died carrying your shame. I was crucified carrying your sins. And when I left, I took them. They were not yours anymore, they're mine, bought with my blood. Satan is going to tell you otherwise. He's going to lie to you. He's going to tell you that you always have to carry your sin and your shame and that it should drag you down to the grave. But the grave is no place for you because it's no place for me either. Don't listen to him. Like the soldier at the cross. I simply ask that you look up, that you see me, and that you believe. Because it's been so long since I was here, you have been tempted to move on, to live your life apart from my promise. Some of you have given up hope. Others have been lured into thinking that what you can see and touch and taste and the things that you feel, that's what really matters. And you're caught believing that this world is all there is. But it's not. My father and I have something so much better in store for you. Another thing you must know. Hate has been around for a really, really long time. The world hated me and now it hates you. That is what the world does. It is not what we do. I chose to walk a path that loves sinners and saints, friends and enemies, the left and the right, the evil and the righteous. Follow me as I love all of God's children. Know this, my beloved. I didn't just die for you. Don't keep that a secret. Let everyone know. And last, like I told my friends before the cross, I say to you now, do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. My father's house has many rooms. If it were not so, I would have told you. I would have told you. And I'm going to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back. And I'm going to take you, and I'm going to take you and you. I'm going to take all of you and all who call upon my name. I'm going to take you that you may be where I am also. That actually is really good. Somebody should write that down. I'll talk to John. Remember, the tomb is empty. I have risen and I'm coming back. Until then, just keep on praising me, keep on serving one another, and keep on showing this world who I am by your love. By your love for God and for each other and for everyone else. See you soon. Jesus. Wow, I'm so glad we were able to find those and look through them. So in case you didn't know, Indiana Jones is just a character in a movie. And these, um, my guess is that somebody printed these off, doused them in tea, crumpled them, tore them, and nearly burned his house down trying to dry them on the stove. That was a terrible idea. But I can tell you this. There is a God and He is alive. And he wants you to know that despite your brokenness and your apathy and your hurt and your guilt and your shame, whether you have business ventures that went bad or a marriage that went south, or kids that won't talk to you, if you have anger and unforgiveness in your life, you know what he says to you? He says, Come to me. You don't have to have your life figured out and altogether. He didn't rise so that you could be a good person. He rose because he is a good God who loves his people. And so this morning, my encouragement for you is that you accept the call from a Savior who loves you and he says, Come to me. And know that as you come towards Jesus, he will come running with open arms, calling out your name, waiting to embrace you. And that's the story not only for us, but for people outside of here. My prayer is that as we celebrate Easter and the resurrected Savior, Son of God, that we don't hide that story, but that we will share it with the world and we will believe it in our own hearts. If you want to believe that, if you want to proclaim Jesus as your Lord and Savior, if you've been away and you want to find a place of broken people who point to a God who heals, we want to invite you to join us. But whatever you do and wherever you go, my prayer is that you will go glorifying God everywhere. I want to invite you to come this morning as we stand and sing.